Ride To Work With The Mayor

Mayor Mike Fahey (in blue in the middle) biked to work Monday.
Dad doesn't have to go far to get to work these days. It's just a matter of a few steps down the hallway from his bedroom to his office. (Worth noting: Mom gave up her craft room in the interest of providing Dad some workspace. Thanks, Mom!) So the idea of a "Bike to Work with the Mayor" doesn't exactly resonate.

However, just like he did back in 2006, Dad tossed his bike in the car (since the ride begins halfway across town) and drove down to the starting point for the three-mile ride. Yes, you are reading that correctly. It's a three-mile ride - round-trip. The first half is all downhill. Then the mayor gets off his bike and hops in a car. Also worth mentioning is that before the ride, Mayor Fahey poses for a picture with Dad (at right).

This year's event attracted about 50 cyclists and featured a pre-ride announcement that the City of Omaha will be using $600,000 in grant money to create better bike routes on city streets. Some of the money will go to signage - which will encourage people to "share the road" with cyclists.

Two years ago (pictured at right), the ride with the mayor was mostly uphill and a couple times Dad even helped push the mayor up the hills near the Civic Auditorium as the ride climbed out of the north downtown area. In both instances, the riders enjoyed tremendous police protection on the way to work. On the way back, it was "fend for yourself" with the police having bailed. Oh well.